By Brad Greer

With  the high school basketball’s regular season heading into its home stretch, the ping of aluminum bats and leather mitts popping could only mean baseball season is right around the corner.

At South Panola, the Tiger baseball team has been hard at work since returning from Christmas break with a series of intrasquad scrimmages to get ready for their pre-season jamboree Feb. 7 at Madison Central. According to Tiger head coach Patrick Robey, that jamboree could possibly be moved to Batesville due to work being done on the Jaguar baseball field.

With two weeks left before the Feb. 14 home-opener against Grenada, Robey said he is feeling confident with the chemistry and depth of this year’s team.

“One of the key things I’m seeing in these practice games is we’ve got seven or eight guys on each side that can win for us. They can get out there and play defense and swing the bat and that is good to see.”

South Panola returns 11 lettermen from last year’s team that finished 17-10 and made it to the first round of the North State playoffs before being ousted by Northwest Rankin. Robey said depth in the infield as well as in the outfield will be contributing factors in the success of this year’s club.

“We’ve got three guys at third base and three guys at first base that I feel comfortable about and we are really two-deep at every position. We have got a lot of returning players but there are a some young kids behind them that are good players also. It’s one of those things you hope everyone keeps a good attitude and keeps a good team attitude. That is the main thing,” said Robey.

    The nucleus of any team starts with pitching and the Tigers seem to have plenty of that to go around Returning seniors Whit Whitten, Ethan Bright and pitcher/shortstop David Renfroe lead the rotation. Sophomore left-hander Mitchell Babb along with Matt Hendrix and Brice Belvin have been impressive during workouts.

Infielder Coty Bryant, who missed all last season with an injury returns to second base along with Zach Horne. Robey said Whitten could also see playing time there if needed. Sophomore Lee Self and Belvin will both see playing time at third base.

Robey said the outfield depth will be another strong suit for his team. Dane Broom and Corbin Moore will return to see time in left while Whitten and Babb could spend time in right field as well as Wesley Gregg.

The Tigers also appear to be solid behind the plate with returning starters Ryan Maxwell and Joseph Blair.